Totally Amazing; He Really Gets It

Last night our family attended a concert put on by the group Children of the World; they were orphans from Uganda with some of the most beautiful music, and heartbreaking testimonies I have ever heard. After the concert we got a chance to visit with these precious children. Their smiles were so warm and they were captivated both by my little blond haired blue eyed baby (and the fact that she has no teeth) and the Dr. Suess book she was holding. They took the book and began devouring it as if they had never seen a Dr. Suess book before; they stood in a little huddle all taking turns reading the strange sounds of Fox in Socks a couple times over.

Jakob was struck by their interest in reading and he gathered his four favorite Dr. Suess books we had in the van and gave them to these children. I had been feeling a bit guilty and ashamed that we had nothing to give these children when they took up a love offering, and that we walked by the sponsership table without being able to stop and sign up. I felt worthless as if we had nothing to give; but my seven year old son knew better. He knew that true giving is not measured by a dollar amount it is measured in your heart. He gave these children a true a heartfelt gift that they cherished. Now I realize it will not help the millions of children orphaned and abandonned in Africa; but it will bring some joy to the small group of children traveling around america for the first time, and they will be able to take the books back to the other children at the orphanage in Uganda and share the fun of Dr. Suess.

In a completely separate moment, Jakob and I had run to the store for some food for our new kitten and had parked next to a car with an RMHS Lobos sticker and he asked me what a Lobo was so we started talking about wolves. After talking about how sometimes wolves will kill a farmer or ranchers sheep he was very quiet for a little while then he said, "Mommy, Satan and his demons are a lot like wolves because they like to kill and destroy Gods sheep. But He is our shepherd and He protects us"

It was a great night for me as a mom; as he said those words I knew that I have set his little feet on the right path, the path that leads to his Heavenly Father. In those two instances, I saw his heart and heard his faith; I said to myself the struggle is worth it. I have been feeling pretty low as a mother and as a person for the last few months, I have been feeling like a failure but last night God used my son to show me that we are on the right path as long as we obey and follow Him in everything we do; including and especially raising our kids. He also showed me that feeling sorry for myself is no way to get out of this funk, prayer and trusting in Him through this season of struggle will get me through. If I humble myself, work hard, deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him; I will be able to lead my children to Him as well. That should be my priority as a mother, not being super mom.

And to think I learned all that from my kid!!!!

What did you get for Mothers Day?

"What did you get/do for Mothers Day?" will be tomorrows most frequently asked question; while I spent most of today moping about how this mothers day will for sure be the same as the past seven, only acknowledged by my children and their Sunday School class gifts, God spoke to my heart about what Mothers Day should really be about for me. I spent so much time today sulking in self pity that I missed several opportunities to spend quality time with my children; to add insult to injury I am well aware of my children's love languages, two of my children are quality time. In the quiet time after the kids were in bed I listened to what God had been trying to say all day, while my inner complaining was drowning Him out

"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a great reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of ones youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies at the gate." Psalm 127:3-5

The first word in this passage is "Behold;" God is really trying to get my attention. He wants me to put aside all my selfish whining and listen to Him. I had felt Him tugging at my heart all day, but I was too lost in moping, as well as the five little hands tugging at me all day, to listen. When I read those words tonight, it was like a slap in the face; somewhat like a movie or T.V. show where someone is slapped and they say "thanks, I needed that." Needless to say I immediately came to attention.

"Children are a gift of the Lord" Do I really need any gifts, flowers, or anything else for mothers day? No, my gift is being a mother. Not only do I get to be a mother, I get to be the mother of five amazing, beautiful, talented, unique children. Are they difficult? Yes. Are they wild, rowdy, and ornery? Yes. Do they test my limits? Daily. Are they an incredible blessing? No question!! Could I ask for anything more? Never. God has definitely filled our quiver. I am so thoroughly ashamed of my moping over the lack of worldly, material gifts when I am surrounded by treasure.

What did I get for Mother's Day? I have been given, by my Heavenly Father, the unbelievable opportunity to raise five children in His Name, to train up a generation that fears, loves, and serves the Lord. I have been given five little people to love, play with, read to, draw with, explore with, cry with, watch over, sing to/with, dance with, serve with, and grow with. Nothing could ever top this gift, and I get to receive it every minute of every day. How blessed am I?

An Exercise in Bonding

Recently I have been on a relentless quest to lose the last remaining excess pounds of baby weight, and hopefully tones and tighten up this baby belly. Having no time or money to join a gym or fitness club I do what I can from home. I don't diet but I eat healthy, I walk the kids to and from school (for us that's 3 times a day,) and I work out at home every day. Being rather shy and reserved I tend to do my workouts after everyone's in bed so no one will be watching; this week however my routine was shaken up.

After dinner Monday night, my children asked if they could do my workout too, I was reluctant but they asked so sweetly I couldn't turn them down. I turned on a family program I thought would be pretty easy and fun for everyone and we started off. Aaden and Cadi lost interest after about five minutes and left the room to play, Jakob and RJ, however, did just about the whole program; I was so proud of them, as it turned out the program was not easy and we all worked pretty hard.

We had so much fun together that night that we tried it again yesterday morning, I haven't let them in on my toning days but I'm thinking I might, they make exercise so much fun it just doesn't seem like a chore when we do it together. I spend a great deal of time with my kids; meeting their needs, playing games, reading, playing in the yard, teaching, etc.; I never seem to spend time together working towards a common goal and encouraging each other to accomplish it. I have really been missing out. When we set out on a mission to exercise together an activity that had always been solitary became a team effort; we were on a mission to get to the end without quitting or cutting corners, and we were in it together.

Working together to finish the whole program,and do the routine well was more than great exercise, it was bonding. By the end we were tired, sweaty, and thirsty; as we all collapsed on the floor together with our water bottles my kids said they never knew exercise was so much fun. Neither did I.